Trip Report - SF, Carmel, Wine Country
Aug 16th, 2006, 11:09 AM
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Trip Report - SF, Carmel, Wine Country
Well, since everyone helped so much, I wanted to share my trip report and what I considered the good and the bad:
Day 1 - arrived late night into SFO and took cab into Union Square area. Great suggestion to take a cab and not rent a car - much more convenient and no parking costs. Stayed at the JW Marriott Union Square - loved this place and front desk and concierge were great!
Day 2 - woke up and had a great bfast at JW Marriott and walked through Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach - had lunch and relaxed at park there (loved this area), Coit tower, Fisherman's Wharf, Ghiradelli, and then cable car back. Rested at hotel and then had dinner at Hunan Homes - best Chinese food ever and very affordable!
Day 3 - Rented car at Avis at Union Square (very convenient) and lovely drive to Carmel - went 280 to 17 to 1. Got to Carmel on Sunday afternoon and alot of traffic! Our hotel (Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley) was not ready and the front desk was rude and not accomodating. They gave other guests waiting coffee or wine, etc but did not bother asking us - we are both young (30) and unless you look like you have money, this place does not treat you well. Would not stay here again for the money. While waiting went to Baja Cantina - great watering hole and place to meet locals. Went for spa treatment at Signature Day Spa - not nice at all and again staff were not friendly and were somewhat pretentious - this just might be Carmel culture. Had dinner at Rio Grill - great food and service and awesome wine collection!
Day 4 - Woke up and drove to Point Lobos park - awesome and beautiful nature. Drove to Big Sur - pretty drive. Lunch at Post Ranch Inn - good food and view but overpriced, but that is Big Sur in general.
Day 5 - Drove to Sonoma. Went through GG bridge and Sausalito - awesome drive. Lunch at Spinnakers - great view but so-so food. Reached Lodge at Sonoma. Stopped at Gloria Ferrar on the way - nice view. Dinner at Carneros Bistro - great. The Lodge was beautiful and very nice - highly recommend it.
Day 6 - Stopped at Buena Vista (probably favorite winery) - great wines and personable. After went on Robert Mondavi tour and tasting which was informative. Stopped at Cakebread Cellars - do not go here! The wine is overrated and they drag on the tasting forever! Next, went to Duckhorn - nice location and laid back and good wines. Finally stopped at Sterling for the gondola ride - nice but the wine was awful! Headed over to Santa Rosa.
Day 7- Stayed at Hilton Santa Rosa. It was a decent hotel for the price and closer to Russian River Valley area. Went to Russian River area and Healdsburg. Loved this area much more than Napa. Great wines and people. Stopped at Roshambo, Arista, Hop Kiln, Rochioli, Arista, and Gary Farrell. Got massages at Alle's day spa in Windsor - very nice! Lunch at Patterson's Pub was nice and casual too. Went to Healdsburg and stopped at Thumbprint and Rosenblum - both great.
Day 8 - Back to SF. Stopped at In-N-Out for lunch to experience it - not bad! Went to Irving neighboorhood and GG park for the day. Dinner at Ebisu (sushi) was phenomenal - probably some of the best sushi we've had! Back to Ohio
Hope this helps anyone planning a trip. Feel free to ask any questions!
Day 1 - arrived late night into SFO and took cab into Union Square area. Great suggestion to take a cab and not rent a car - much more convenient and no parking costs. Stayed at the JW Marriott Union Square - loved this place and front desk and concierge were great!
Day 2 - woke up and had a great bfast at JW Marriott and walked through Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach - had lunch and relaxed at park there (loved this area), Coit tower, Fisherman's Wharf, Ghiradelli, and then cable car back. Rested at hotel and then had dinner at Hunan Homes - best Chinese food ever and very affordable!
Day 3 - Rented car at Avis at Union Square (very convenient) and lovely drive to Carmel - went 280 to 17 to 1. Got to Carmel on Sunday afternoon and alot of traffic! Our hotel (Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley) was not ready and the front desk was rude and not accomodating. They gave other guests waiting coffee or wine, etc but did not bother asking us - we are both young (30) and unless you look like you have money, this place does not treat you well. Would not stay here again for the money. While waiting went to Baja Cantina - great watering hole and place to meet locals. Went for spa treatment at Signature Day Spa - not nice at all and again staff were not friendly and were somewhat pretentious - this just might be Carmel culture. Had dinner at Rio Grill - great food and service and awesome wine collection!
Day 4 - Woke up and drove to Point Lobos park - awesome and beautiful nature. Drove to Big Sur - pretty drive. Lunch at Post Ranch Inn - good food and view but overpriced, but that is Big Sur in general.
Day 5 - Drove to Sonoma. Went through GG bridge and Sausalito - awesome drive. Lunch at Spinnakers - great view but so-so food. Reached Lodge at Sonoma. Stopped at Gloria Ferrar on the way - nice view. Dinner at Carneros Bistro - great. The Lodge was beautiful and very nice - highly recommend it.
Day 6 - Stopped at Buena Vista (probably favorite winery) - great wines and personable. After went on Robert Mondavi tour and tasting which was informative. Stopped at Cakebread Cellars - do not go here! The wine is overrated and they drag on the tasting forever! Next, went to Duckhorn - nice location and laid back and good wines. Finally stopped at Sterling for the gondola ride - nice but the wine was awful! Headed over to Santa Rosa.
Day 7- Stayed at Hilton Santa Rosa. It was a decent hotel for the price and closer to Russian River Valley area. Went to Russian River area and Healdsburg. Loved this area much more than Napa. Great wines and people. Stopped at Roshambo, Arista, Hop Kiln, Rochioli, Arista, and Gary Farrell. Got massages at Alle's day spa in Windsor - very nice! Lunch at Patterson's Pub was nice and casual too. Went to Healdsburg and stopped at Thumbprint and Rosenblum - both great.
Day 8 - Back to SF. Stopped at In-N-Out for lunch to experience it - not bad! Went to Irving neighboorhood and GG park for the day. Dinner at Ebisu (sushi) was phenomenal - probably some of the best sushi we've had! Back to Ohio
Hope this helps anyone planning a trip. Feel free to ask any questions!
Aug 16th, 2006, 11:41 AM
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We stayed in a regular room, not the cottage and it was fine for us. It had a nice bathtub and spacious room. It is about a 45-60 minute drive to the Russian River Valley - feasible but we chose to stay closer.
Aug 17th, 2006, 10:34 AM
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Glad you had a good overall visit shelja. Sorry that you had some not to great experiences in Carmel. But don't judge the entire area by Carmel Valley and people who tend to forget that if someone can afford their services, they are entitled to the best service possible.
Aug 17th, 2006, 08:28 PM
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shelja-Thanks for the nice trip report. I am actually in SF right now on business and staying at the JW Marriott for the first time. I am loving it! I walked in and looked at the bathroom and fell in love!! Puts the Grand Hyatt to shame although a Starbucks across the street would be nice!!
Thanks for the Sonoma recommendations. I am heading up there with Faina from the forum on Saturday. Just a day trip but hopefully will at least see the highlights of the area.
Thanks for the Sonoma recommendations. I am heading up there with Faina from the forum on Saturday. Just a day trip but hopefully will at least see the highlights of the area.
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